Egbert e



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT R. GRAF, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFERDINAND IV. REIS, OF SAME PLACE.

INCOMBUSTIBLE WASTE FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,889, dated February3, 1891.

Application filed November 28, 1890. Serial No.3'72,909. (No specimens-lTo (0% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. GRAF, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Incombustible Vaste for Lubricating Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in so-called lubricating-waste,(of cotton or wool,) of which large quantities are used for lubricatingthe piston-rods of steam-engines, the axles of railway-carsandlocomotives, and for numerous other purposes. \Vhen used forlubricating purposes in the journal-boxes of railway-cars, this waste,saturated as it is with oil or grease, is very apt to take fire by theheat generated by the rapid revolutions of the journals, which resultsin what is commonly known as a hot box, necessitating the stoppage ofthe train in order to extinguish the fire and allow the box to cool; andthe object of my improvement is to produce as an improved article ofmanufacture a non-combustible lubricating-waste, which shall possess thesame absorbent quality for oil or grease as the easily-inflammable wastenow in common use, but which cannot take fire, and by the use of which,therefore, the liability of hot boxes on the rapidly-running trains ofthe present day is avoided.

To prepare my improved non-inflammable or incombustiblewaste,l takecotton or woolen waste, as may be desired, and segregate or pick itapart a little, so that all portions of it may be thoroughly subjectedto the action of the fireproofing composition. The latter consists of afluid mixture prepared by adding to one hundred and sixty parts of clearwater, by weight, seven parts of sulphate of ammonia, four parts ofphosphate of ammonia, seven parts of sodium tungstate, four parts ofsal-ammoniac, and four parts of phosphate of sodium. This formsaclearsolution. After the waste has been picked and segregated, it iswashed with soap and soda to thoroughly remove all traces of grease, thepresence of 50 which would prevent proper absorption of the liquid. Itis then rinsed in clear cold water and dried in the sun, or byartificial heat, after which it is ready for immersion into and steepingin the fireproofing liquid. In order v to make sure of a thoroughsteeping, so that every particle of fiber may be permeated with themixture, it should remain immersed in the liquid for at leasttwenty-four hours, after which it is removed from the bath, passedthrough awringer to squecze out the excess of liquid, and then slowlydried, when it is ready for use. The waste thus prepared Will befound tobe absolutely non-inflammable and incombustible, possessing the samecapacity for absorbing lubricating material as before treatment, whilethe cost of fireproofing is merely nominal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States As an improved article ofmanufacture, incombustible waste for lubricating purposes composed ofcotton or woolen fiber steeped in mixture of sulphate of ammonia,phosphate of ammonia, sodium tungstate, sal-ammoniac, and phosphate ofsodium, and water, and subsequently dried, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT R. GRAF.

Witnesses:

.AUGUST PETERSON, BENNETT L. J ONES.

